What Works: Visual Marking Systems

TWINSBURG -- Visual Marking Systems has been a leader in custom graphic design and printing for over 50 years. Most of their clients are Fortune 500 companies that need an identification logo produced or a marketing program to help get their branding out to the public.

They specialize in four markets -- decals for original equipment, POP displays, vehicle graphics and wraps, and public transportation signage.

At 106 employees, they're looking for seven more because they're so busy.

WKYC Photojournalist Mike Greene brings you the story.

The printers are run by two different shifts, twenty hours a day, including weekends. About 40 percent of their business is Ohio-based, but they also do business all over North America, including Canada and Mexico.

VMS recently received certification from the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership as a Certified Green Printer. Only 36 other printers in the U.S. have received the same recognition.

One example of them being "green" is the use of latex ink.

It's an ink that's recyclable and when they're done with the cartridge, HP takes it back and is able to recycle it.

Changes in lighting will save them $10,000 a year and they'll recycle 27 tons of raw material that won't end up in landfills.

Going green is great for the environment, but it's also good for business, as the savings can be passed on to their customers.

One local manufacturer in town was able to get a 15 percent price reduction on a yearly basis.

By having that certification, they gain an environmental pedigree for their business that's attractive to their customers.

That helps in the pursuit of their mission -- to continue to grow in size and profits as they reach their ultimate goal of customer satisfaction.